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Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 9

April 2, 2020 by Joe Kappel

Today we close this series on Global Perspectives. While it’s sad to transition to other perspectives in the days ahead, it’s been so refreshing to get my eyes off myself and my concerns to see what the Lord Jesus is doing in others around the world. Julie Sanders began this series helping us see what can learn from Covid-19, and I’ve asked her to write the last article in this series to help us keep our eyes on Global Perspectives going forward.

How COVID19 is Teaching us What’s Essential

Most of us thought we knew the meaning of essential. Now we’re not sure. FEMA says, “Essential services are the services and functions that are absolutely necessary, even during a pandemic. They maintain the health and welfare of the municipality. Without these services, sickness, poverty, violence, and chaos would likely result.” We’re making decisions about essential travel, services, businesses, supplies, even essential medical care. We’re used to having a lot. It hasn’t all been essential.

No one wanted to learn the essence of “essential” this way. It would be more comfortable to learn from a book, highlighter in hand, coffee in cup, and extra toilet paper in closet. But God captured our global attention, turning our hearts to know our needs in ways we didn’t know we didn’t know.

The Essential Question

We were packing to move when the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory. Between decisions about what to keep or take, we counseled others about what to carry on scarce international flights.  “Only take what you need,” we said to team mates and ourselves.

On the day we packed the truck, it didn’t all fit. Jeff asked, “What’s essential?” It was a good question.

On both sides of the world, we wrestled with the Essential Question. COVID demands, “What matters most everyday and eternally?”

Everyday

In a matter of weeks, our budgets and our schedules have all been impacted. Instead of spending with wants in mind, we’re stewarding resources with needs in mind.

Our Heavenly Father knows our needs. He designed physical, emotional and spiritual needs to work together. Everyday life a place to exercise the essentials.

God wants us to ask the questions He knows the answers to.

  • What things are necessary?
  • How much is essential?
  • Where do we use resources He’s given?
  • Who needs what we have?
  • Why is this useful in the Kingdom?

Police in Bosnia ordered a ministry to refugees to stop cooking out of their kitchen. The national leader considered what was truly essential, asking permission to distribute pre-packaged food. At greater cost, the congregation sacrificed their already strained budget to provide basic supplies.

  • Review your budget, asking God to remind you of where your supply comes from.
  • Ask God to help you see what is essential from His perspective.
  • Ask God to help you understand needs vs. wants and trust Him to care for you.

“So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ … your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Eternally

By now, we know this isn’t a staycation. This is a blank slate. At home, we can create a new normal. In how we live privately, we have the opportunity to put the most important things in place. What will we include in this current COVID lifestyle that will last?

  • When a four year old Rohingya child began to run a high temperature, Live Global partner S had a decision to make. While most would stay away, he and his wife decided he would go. Greeted by a worried mother in a full black burka, a sign of her Muslim faith, S let eternity determine his actions.
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  • When the government issued stay home orders to an impoverished region, panic buying ensued. National partners considered their resources and the needs. They assessed what it would take to buy basic supplies for each slum home they serve. They know supplying everyday resources opens doors for eternity.
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  • When a Live Global prayer warrior heard about increased needs and increased limitations, she used her resources. From her fixed income she sent a gift, and with her abilities on social media, she shared the needs and asked for prayer. Going further, she wrote a message of encouragement to the leaders, encouraging them to stand firm. Instead of letting age or confinement be a restriction, she used her new normal to make an eternal difference.

In this unprecedented time, all nations are asking the same question, “What’s essential?” Everyone is thinking about what matters most in life and in death. More than before we heard of COVID19, everyone knows — eternity is essential.

In our new normal, the Gospel goes out in new ways.

  • Inform your prayers: read missions letters, use the news, ask good questions.
  • Encourage the body: use technology, write notes to let people know you’re praying.
  • Stay engaged: gather as the church through technology.
  • Be still: If you don’t know how to pray, let the Spirit pray for you.
  • Protect the opportunity: refuse to let distractions hijack what God is doing.

We could use our energy worrying about having enough in store for what we don’t know what’s in store. But, “For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lost his life?” (Mark 6:36).

When we look back at this, let’s say we lived for what was essential in our everyday lives and in the expectation of eternity.

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Would you consider supporting the work the Sanders are doing? Visit https://www.abwe.org/work/support and type in “Sanders.” You’ll be able to give directly to them as they share good news in a troubled world.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: community, covid-19, essential, eternity, FEMA, gospel, Missions, Prayer, social media

Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 8

April 1, 2020 by Joe Kappel

Yesterday I shared a portion of my interview with a contact in China. Today I’m sharing part 2. As I said yesterday, it’s helpful to take a step back from media coverage of China and see things through the eyes of believers there. One of the most helpful things I’ve heard in recent weeks is that the Chinese believer are praying for us here in America. Let’s get on with today’s Global Perspective to hear more from a family on the ground in Beijing.

Perspective from China, Pt. 2


How are Chinese believers responding to the virus?

Our church, and a couple of others in Beijing known to us, have gone online fairly smoothly. There are lots of social media groups (on WeChat, the ubiquitous platform in China) in which believers are sharing encouragements and prayers. Bible studies and prayer meetings are also happening via video-conferencing. We have been very impressed with how the more mature believers have continued to encourage everyone to keep being involved with one another even though we can’t meet. The teaching from our church has been solidly biblical, and neither dominated by the coronavirus situation nor minimising it. It feels like they really have done the best that anyone could do. The church also organised offerings in order to donate supplies to Hubei province in the early days of the virus, but the government has generally frowned on any civil society or charitable efforts and so we haven’t heard any more about further opportunities to give in that way since early February. Most recently people in our church have been praying for other countries and checking up with us about our friends and family back home, offering to send things to our families if needed.

I wish I knew more about rural congregations, or churches in other cities, but I can only really speak intelligently about a small section of the church in Beijing. There has been more fear than I believe is appropriate in the congregations known to us, but there are also very wise voices speaking into those situations, and the church leaders seem to be doing a great job.

What should American believers learn from China’s experience through the coronavirus?

Prepare for months of disruption to church life, and plan creatively and positively to support the lonely and vulnerable, even if you can’t go to visit them right now, and to strengthen the faith of all other believers. Get used to gaining what you can from online meetings, and from lots more phone calls, but hunger for the day when you can meet again in significant numbers to enjoy face-to-face fellowship and worship together in person.

Humility and patience are vital. This is certainly true inside the home — you’ll now be spending more time with a smaller number of people in a confined space, and that will test the quality of love and forbearance. As for outside the home, don’t insist on personal expression and freedoms in the moment if it would increase the risk of others catching the virus.

Exercise sober judgement when you hear conflicting things from politicians, medical experts, media voices, etc. When in doubt I recommend listening to the medics — they are much less likely to be lying to you or shooting off their mouths than the politicians, who tend to say something different depending which day of the week it is (clearly some politicians are much worse than others in this regard). Doctors here in China warned of the virus weeks before the local government in Wuhan was prepared to admit its severity. In America you have the opposite problem — not too few voices, but too many!

Cherish the fact that our treasure is not here on earth. And comfort those who are anxious using gospel truth, not with platitudes. It may well be that the Lord will open up conversations with unbelieving family members, colleagues or friends who are especially afraid, or who are grieving, and the good news of Jesus is what they need to hear, from a loving ambassador of Christ, whether there is a virus going round or not.

If there are people you see in need because they have lost their jobs, don’t hold back in generosity. If you are a landlord and your tenants are suddenly unemployed, don’t throw them out. I know of a few cases in Beijing where landlords have made a lot of trouble for out-of-town or foreign tenants, and the coronavirus itself is bad enough without cruelty and profiteering of any kind making it worse. Millions of people in China have already suffered economically because of the coronavirus, and their large savings accounts may tide them over for a while. But Americans tend to have less saved up than the Chinese, so in times of crisis, many people around you probably have very little buffer in place.

If no one hoards and panic buys toilet paper then there is enough toilet paper. Think very seriously when you load up your shopping cart about what the Lord would say to you. Are Christians here in this world to do as the world does or to live out a better way?

Don’t talk about praying more — just pray more.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Beijing, China, church, community, coronavirus, covid-19, faith, fear, generosity, love, love others, pray, Prayer

Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 7

March 31, 2020 by Joe Kappel

Recently I reached out to friends living in Beijing, China to ask about their experience so far through 10 weeks of quarantine in a city of 21 million. I learned much through the experience they shared, and I’m featuring their perspective in two parts today and tomorrow. Just a note: please remember to pray for China. Pray specifically that the gospel would prevail and reach many in these days. Whenever you hear about China in the media, would you commit to pray?

Perspective from China

To start with, share anything about yourself that would be helpful for us to know your general life and circumstances.

My family and I live in the university district of Beijing, quite near the centre, in an older residential compound with a high proportion of retired people. There are densely packed low-rise apartment blocks from the 1960s and 70s and high-rise blocks from the 2000s all squashed together. We have lived in this general area for almost ten years, studying Mandarin, teaching in universities, and doing postgraduate research into minority groups.

How long have you experienced the effect of the coronavirus in your location?

It was already extremely quiet in Beijing when the effects of the coronavirus began to impinge on us directly, because huge numbers of people had left the city for their hometowns, preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year with their extended families. So, initially, there wasn’t much to notice that was different. But by the end of the third week of January there was enough about it in the media that we had begun to pay more attention, and then our church abruptly suspended its meetings and moved online. My father was planning to visit us just after that, and his airline cancelled all flights to China the day before he was due to come out. That was a big blow. So, it’s now 10 weeks since we really felt anything directly, though we had read about it earlier in January.

If we believe general media reports, China currently has the coronavirus completely under control. Can you provide perspective on what you see on the ground where you live?

Here in Beijing it does seem completely under control. The numbers of patients have been pretty low here, well under a thousand, with only a few deaths in the city. We happened to need to visit two different hospitals for unrelated reasons after the lockdown had begun, and in neither hospital was there any sense of panic. On the contrary, they were practically deserted, as most people were clearly afraid to leave their homes for almost anything, and non-emergency medical procedures were being postponed.

For the last two weeks there has been a gradual increase in the numbers of people out and about, on foot or in vehicles, and in the number of restaurants re-opening. But most other places where people might gather indoors remain closed — schools, campuses, churches, mosques, cinemas, etc. Many people continue to be wary about coming out of their homes except for essential purchases; at the same time, we know of several folk who have returned to Beijing from their hometowns, endured a temporary self-isolation, and then rejoined Beijing life, albeit in this new restricted and cautious sense. Of course, no one can predict what will happen when restrictions are lifted further and the possibility of a new outbreak rears its head.

How have average Chinese citizens responded?

There are many different kinds of average Chinese! But they do have this in common — they all wear masks. That’s the one product that I noticed was briefly in short supply in supermarkets. Since mid-February, however, no shortages have been apparent. And we have never had the sense that any panic buying that might have been happening in the first few weeks ever led to any shelves being actually emptied in the shops.

Those who have to work in lower-paid sectors, especially bus drivers, security guards and the small shop-owners who we all depend on for daily food purchases, have just got on with working — of course, all wearing masks, and sometimes conducting their trade by passing items out through their doors, rather than allowing customers into their narrow shops. Many of those sorts of workers have been prevented from returning to their work in the big cities because they were stuck in their hometowns for Chinese New Year. But these small shops are increasingly opening up again on the streets around us. Delivery drivers and couriers have been doing a roaring trade, since a lot more retail purchasing has been done online in the last two months.

The mobile elderly, who are normally outdoors puttering around residential compounds, have kept this up to a certain degree, though in February and early March even they spent a lot more time inside, and some familiar faces in our neighbourhood have not emerged yet.

Middle class and white collar workers, who tend to have a higher degree of ‘modern anxiety’ even when there is no crisis, have tended to retreat into their high-rise apartments, which they can do relatively painlessly, especially if they are able to work online throughout the lockdown. There has definitely been a lot of fear here, and this has helped people to self-isolate. Even without heavy-handed pressure, lots of people are extremely willing to hide themselves away. We know some families who kept their children inside their apartment for around 8 weeks before finally daring to let them go outside for a walk.

What has been your experience through quarantine?

Praise the Lord we have never felt afraid, or in any real danger either from the virus or from any knock-on effects. Thankfully my teaching job moved online relatively easily, and although it’s much less satisfying for me and the students than proper classroom interaction, we can still have classes and I am still getting paid. At my university even the foreign teachers who are not able to work (because the government won’t allow them to conduct online classes from outside China) are being paid. So, we have benefitted from the ‘social buffers’ that the Chinese government has in place.

Sometimes, however, we have wondered if we were going stir crazy. At one point we had not had face-to-face social interaction with anyone for 22 straight days, and the only people we had seen, fleetingly, were a handful of shopkeepers, and the guards and local neighbourhood volunteers who were at the gates and entrances of our residential compound, checking temperatures and temporary passes.

We have read more news online than has probably been good for us, but as the virus spread we have prayed more for countries that we had never particularly paid much attention to. Our understanding of what counts as responsible citizenship has also gradually changed as new information has become available — we get the feeling that we are still more relaxed than most Chinese people, but more careful than most Westerners (or, at least, than most Westerners were until around a week ago). We have grown more persuaded of the need for serious measures to be taken, and have had to repent of our earlier rather careless attitude. As regards our personal attitude in the face of restrictions, we have, I hope, grown to be more wise and godly.

Most of all we have had to learn to be patient. Some of the rules over personal movement, delivery of packages and entry into other residential areas have been irrational. Thankfully (and also annoyingly) the rules are also enforced slightly flexibly, and change frequently. This can create a problem on Thursday that wasn’t there on Wednesday, and doesn’t seem to make any more sense than the previous rule.

Mandarin is quite a blunt language, especially when spoken by non-native speakers, and it is easy for us to sound angry and indeed to get angry with security guards or the neighbourhood volunteers (and it seems like it’s the naturally bossy and officious people who sign up for that job!) when faced with minor restrictions or hold-ups in our walking around. Entering the compound of the one family we have gone to visit in the last 6 weeks brings a new challenge almost every time we go there! Slowly, we are learning to be sanctified through this process, though it is frightening how close sin is lurking at the door at times of stress or inconvenience.

[End of Part 1. Please check the blog tomorrow for Part 2 where we’ll get perspective on how Chinese believers have responded to Covid-19 and lessons we can personalize from Chinese believers’ experience here in the U.S.A.]

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Beijing, China, Chinese New Year, community, covid-19, fear, isolation, Mandarin, media, meeting together, pandemic, Prayer, quarantine, repentance, Students, waiting

Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 6

March 30, 2020 by Joe Kappel

Friends, I realize it’s been many days now of social distancing. I hope among many ways you are seeking encouragement that these articles with Global Perspective have served you well. Today we get a glimpse into the risks the Covid-19 virus has on the refugee community in Europe and ways believers need to focus no matter what challenges they face. Read on for today’s Global Perspective.

The Refugee Community and the Corona Crisis

Over the past several years, God has given me the privilege of working with the refugee community in Greece. Within this community, a minimum of 7-8 nationalities are all blended together at any given time.  Languages, cultures, religions and traditions swirl around me and watching these people work to find their feet in their daily uphill climb has impacted me in more ways that I will ever be able to write.

When the crisis of COVID19 began to reach Greece, its spread to the refugee camps became a major concern. They have lost so much already and often live in crowded conditions with lack of access to consistent proper nutrition, and a sickness like this could spread like wildfire. With great sadness, we proactively decided to close our day centers and gatherings during the last three weeks and limit our movements in and out of the camps to protect them from contamination.

Tonight, I sit here at home beginning week 3 of restricted activity, and, like so many of you, it feels strange to have so little control over my schedule, work, social activities and travel with no guarantee these conditions won’t last for many more weeks to come. Some moments this feels like a great chance to “catch my breath” or work through the growing list of things that always seem to be piling up. Other moments, it can start to feel like everything is out of control and things will never feel “normal” again.

God is using this time, though, to remind me of the lessons He’s taught me as I’ve had a front row seat to witnessing human response to crisis within the work and ministry He’s called me to…here are just few lessons that are hitting home right now:

Lesson 1 – Hospitality and sharing with others is not only possible, but actually an essential part of life even during times of crisis. Yes, we may have to be careful with our resources, learn to waste less, and streamline our spending to what’s truly essential, but at the end of the day, finding a way to share something of ourselves or a portion of what we have with someone else brings true joy…to all involved.

Hebrews 11: 16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Lesson 2 – A positive outlook and proper focus may not change your circumstances, but it will change how you experience them. When times are hard, it can take a lot of energy and emotion to process even the simplest of daily activities…and there’s no shame in that.  But as we are walking through difficult circumstances, it is crucial to find ways to still find things that we are thankful for and create ways to laugh and enjoy moments with those around you (at a proper distance, of course!). My friends here have taught me that when all else fails…ending the day with music and a bit of dancing can always put a smile on your face.

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

Lesson 3 – When life seems out of our control, what we truly believe will be tested. In times like these, life’s distractions fade away and what or who we are truly trusting in becomes evident. If our faith is grounded in Christ, then these times can work to refine us and deepen our belief. But if our faith has been in something or someone other than the God of the universe, we can find ourselves feeling lost and in search of what truth we’ve been missing. God very well may be using this time of crisis to affect many for eternity!

1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Lord, help us to see these days through your eyes. Give us peace that you are in control, and always have been. Give us compassion for others and use us as salt and light in these trying times. Show us how to not just survive the weeks ahead only to return to “normal life” but help refine us and change us for your glory.

Written by S.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: community, coronavirus, covid19, Greece, hospitality, refugee, testing, waiting

Daily Dose of Faith

March 26, 2020 by Joe Kappel

So many excellent resources are coming out each new day as we experience the effects of Covid-19 all around us. I want to round up as many of those as possible to ensure we each get a daily dose of biblical hope, faith and love in these fearful times.

Tabletalk Magazine

First up is Tabletalk Magazine from Ligonier ministries. In God’s providence, as Pastor Sam talked about last Sunday, the editors of Tabletalk’s monthly magazine planned for the March edition to focus on “Fear.” With articles like “Fear of a Changing World,” “Fear of Being Alone,” and “Fear of Dying,” this month’s edition of Tabletalk ministers practical spiritual care to fearful people. And it’s good to read every month, even subscribe to it. My wife and I have enjoyed this monthly magazine for about a year. Pastor Al Cage has benefited from it since 1995!

How to make the most of lockdown tips from Christians in Italy

Second link today features perspectives from a Christian family of 6 navigating the national lockdown in Italy. As the author notes, “We are God’s people in this city. We have the message of hope this city needs. We need to be engaging one another, encouraging one another, and preparing one another to be the testimony God has called us to be in this storm. This lockdown has highlighted the importance of community for us all.”

Right Now Media

Finally, why not right now take advantage of Rightnow Media? Rightnow Media is one of the leading ministries featuring biblical teaching and edifying media through videos that can be played on your home Roku, smartphone or personal computer or tablet. Best of all, it’s a ministry offered for free from West Park Baptist Church! Click to sign up today.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: community, coronavirus, covid19, faith, fear, isolation, love, pandemic, quarantine, Right Now Media, TableTalk

Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 3

March 25, 2020 by Joe Kappel

Today we hear from Jennifer Mee. Jennifer shares her perspective on 14 days of quarantine in the same house as, but isolated from, her husband and kids. How does she manage? Keep reading to learn from Jen’s perspective.

Unexpected Blessings of Quarantine

Last week I was tired. I love our ministry and all that it involves, but I honestly had a day where I weepingly asked God between big gasps of air, “How?” I know it’s in His strength, not mine…

I know that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, but for real! I remember thinking His strength must be getting really perfect because I’m all weak over here! Up to the last minute of packing, I was organizing lesson plans for the english class my husband would substitute for me and giving instructions for the homeschool days I would miss. My husband and kids dropped me off at the airport early Thursday morning with only a slight niggling inkling of the huge storm that loomed over us.

I loved every minute of the weekend conference. The rush of walking into a huge conference room filled with 6,000 women worshipping Jesus and hungering for the word! The fun of going to the bathroom (mom of three kids) by myself! Being able to stand and chat with friends I hadn’t seen in 14 or 15 years! Being blessed with the immense privilege of praying alongside women who thirsted for Jesus, for forgiveness, for assurance, for freedom from guilt… It was ALL so exhilarating! And sleep? Who needs sleep in a weekend like that? And there was coffee too! I felt SO refreshed.

Then came Sunday. I attended a local church service with a friend who would take me to the airport. The service was subdued and a local doctor addressed the congregation (and was livestreamed) with advice and precautions concerning the current virus. I think that was the first moment that I realized, something happened while I’ve been gone! In just three days of less internet connection, the world epidemic exploded in North and South America. The airport was nearly empty, the plane was 3/4 full. The atmosphere was somber as the flight attendant told some people seated near me that Colombia was closing its borders at midnight and if we didn’t land before then, we might tank up and turn back around.

Thankfully, we landed at 11:30, and Colombia did allow citizens and residents (of which I am one) in for the next few days. The president asked all persons entering the country to observe personal isolation and quarantine for 14 days upon entry. So I didn’t get to hug my kids. I didn’t get to kiss my husband. We set up a plan to avoid contact in the house knowing that I could be carrying the virus for up to 14 days without symptoms.

Did I mention that during that conference, I was in contact with SO many women? We were all blessed by the messages, under conviction and crying! As I prayed with one woman in particular, I remember kneeling over her as she sobbed uncontrollably. As I prayed into her ear, I felt her tears on my hands. As I beckoned another volunteer to come pray for this lady as well, I remember feeling her tears splash onto my shoulders and arms as well… So I was definitely “exposed.” But gloriously so!

My first thoughts upon entering isolation were, “What about homeschool? What about all the things I need to do? What about…?” And almost instantly I remembered the stack of new books I had just purchased at the conference, the Bible study I wanted to start and last week’s feeling of exhaustion. And I felt peace.

So this week, God has answered my anxious, gasping prayer of last week in such an unexpected way. Yes, I came back from the conference in Mexico, barely sliding under the door of the closing borders, so to speak, renewed and exhilarated after being “on the mountain with God.” But instead of jumping back into ministry and the whirlwind of missionary life, I have an obligatory rest. It’s like God said, “Sit down.” So I sat.

I have time to reflect and process the things I heard and learned in the conference. I have time to pray (so much time to pray) for the many friends and family (the whole world really) affected by this pandemic. I have time to just be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)

And I am so grateful every day that I wake up without symptoms, for a warm, dry house to be quarantined in, for hot water to wash in, for the food in our pantry, for the safety in our neighborhood, for the love and health of friends I am chatting with, for internet that has reunited me with friends because of this virus, for internet that has enabled me to continue discipleships with girls and teaching English classes, for music and games and crafts that keep my children happily distracted from the world’s troubles.

And I pray that if the day comes that I wake up with symptoms, I will continue to be grateful for all of those same things. And if I make it through the 14 days without symptoms, my plan is to continue practicing social distancing and wise precautions for as long as government and CDC recommends it… but after these 14 days, I will hug and kiss my kids so gratefully, I will play with them on the floor and color and paint with them. I will read books with them on my lap and snuggle with them to watch a movie on the couch. And I will kiss my husband until we almost can’t breathe. Because those are the things I miss the most.

So as I continue to spend time in this God-ordained rest, I feel like it’s a prolonged visit on the mountain with Him. I want to soak up every minute of this blessing! And my biggest prayer is that when I come down off the mountain, I will look and smell a little bit more like Christ. That His strength will be made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). That others will see HIM.

2 Corinthians 2:15 – “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

March 20, 2020

Jennifer Mee

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: community, coronavirus, covid19, fear, gratefulness, hope, pandemic, Prayer, weakness, weariness

Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 1

March 23, 2020 by Joe Kappel

I am excited to introduce today a series of articles that focus on hope during times of fear. Today’s article is by Julie Sanders, and she provides godly perspective on how to live as Christians during the Coronavirus pandemic.
-Pastor Joe

Coronavirus and How Christians can respond

Peace for life

On the last day of the last decade, the first cases of what we now call COVID-19 were reported to the WHO (World Health Organization). Within a week, China identified the virus, and two weeks later a case was reported on US soil. Underneath the fast-paced timeline, we’ve asked a lot of questions. “What facts are true facts?” “Should I buy gloves?” “Is this just the flu?” It’s a physically human response to become agitated or anxious when we face unknown events; it’s why we sweat, lick our lips, wring our hands, cry, whimper, or withdraw. When SARS, cousin of Corona, emerged my family lived in Asia. Today, the addition of the internet and social media magnifies the swell of worry as people sift through information on today’s virus. For crises like Coronavirus, we need a Christ-like response to guide our thinking, our prayers, and our actions.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

People are given to twisting truth. Most of us do it without knowing it. We have elderly loved ones, fragile friends, and connections in impacted areas. We may exaggerate or downplay the truth in our effort to respond. It’s important to lean into what’s true and away from what’s sensational. No source of information is infallible. Our thinking is more likely to be orderly and helpful when we turn to trusted resources and turn away from hype.

Coronavirus – Information Resources (COVID-19)

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide a summary of information and medical resources. LOOK HERE.
  • The National Institutes of Health provide a helpful summary, risk assessment, and recommendations. LOOK HERE.
  • The World Health Organization provides updates, research, and travel guidance. LOOK HERE.

Helpful Verses for our Hearts & Minds

  • Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  • Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
  • Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
  • Blessed is the one who considers the poor … The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. (Psalm 41:1-3)
  • Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. (Psalm 103:2-4)

You might find my free resource 10 Verses to Pray for Sick Friends useful right now. Check out and download 10 Verses to Pray for Sick Friends. There are 10 verses to pray and prayers to go with each.

Coronavirus – 10 Ways to Care for your Community

  1. Check on elderly neighbors anxious about going out. Do they need groceries? Leave them on the porch and add a flower for cheer.
  2. Ask your medical friends if they’re doing okay; they’re facing extra pressure dealing with worried patients.
  3. Drop off a basket of encouragement to your local ER or doctor’s office. Include verse cards for confidence and a note of thanks for their care.
  4. Post thoughtfully on social media. Will the content you share help others find peace in this climate or will it fuel their fears?
  5. Check on and pray for people living overseas. They may be facing restrictions or concerns you aren’t thinking about. Caring contact helps a lot.
  6. Be thoughtful about your humor. Everyone’s experience and life concerns are different. Jokes about Coronavirus may be hurtful to someone near you.
  7. Offer to help sanitize classrooms at your local school or church. This takes time, and extra (clean) hands may be welcome.
  8. Be backup child care for a friend with littles. Regular care plans may be disrupted and parents may be worried. If you can help, be willing.
  9. Cough into your arm. Coronavirus concerns have people on edge when they hear a cough or sneeze, so be extra mindful of containing your own germs.
  10. Resist the urge to hoard. My grocery store doesn’t have a single bottle of alcohol. It’s a good thing I don’t need one. There’s a fine line between being prepared to care for our family and trying to control our circumstances. God’s got that covered.

A Prayer for living in Coronavirus

The global church is leading the way here, as seen in this early message of encouragement from a Pastor in Wuhan. As people experience fear about the unknown, this is an opportunity to experience and share God’s peace.

Dear God, You are Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. This disease did not catch You by surprise. We know there will be a day when there’s no more suffering, and we look forward to that. For now, help us trust You with our lives and health. Give us Your peace to answer our worries. Help us serve those around us with compassion. Use this global illness to bring people Your peace and praise to Your name.

Download the 10 Verses to Pray for Sick Friends here.

This article originally appeard on juliesanders.org. Shared here with permission.
https://juliesanders.org/2020/03/coronavirus-how-christians-can-respond/

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: community, coronavirus, covid19, fear, hope, pandemic, Prayer

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